The Tradition of Afternoon Tea: From Britain to the World
Afternoon tea is a tradition steeped in history, originating in England during the early 19th century. It is said to have been popularized by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, who found herself feeling hungry between lunch and the fashionably late dinner hour. To satisfy her cravings, she started requesting a light meal of tea and snacks to be served in the late afternoon, eventually inviting friends to join her in this daily ritual.
The practice of afternoon tea quickly caught on among the upper classes, becoming a social event that brought people together to enjoy tea, sandwiches, scones, and pastries. This elegant affair was typically served on fine china and accompanied by polite conversation and refined manners. As the popularity of afternoon tea spread throughout England, it became a symbol of sophistication and became synonymous with British culture.
Origins in England
The tradition of afternoon tea, as we know it today, has its origins rooted in England during the early 19th century. It is said that the credit for introducing this elegant custom goes to Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, a close friend of Queen Victoria. In the early 1840s, the Duchess would often find herself feeling peckish in the late afternoon, given the long gap between lunch and dinner. To curb her hunger pangs, she began requesting a tray of tea, sandwiches, and cakes to be brought to her room, leading to the birth of what we now call afternoon tea.
Initially, afternoon tea was a private affair, enjoyed within the confines of the aristocratic circle. However, as the trend started to catch on, it soon became a fashionable social event within English high society. The elaborate spread of delicate pastries, scones with clotted cream and jam, finger sandwiches, and, of course, a pot of hot tea became synonymous with sophistication and leisure. The ritual of afternoon tea gradually spread beyond the aristocracy, becoming a beloved tradition embraced by people from all walks of life in England.
